Under-23s in live MUTV action on Sunday

There are likely to be opportunities for younger players again, against Spurs, with Fernandez and Shola Shoretire scoring their first goals at Under-23s level in the win over Brighton, and adapting well to life in Premier League 2.

“The most important thing is they step up and make an impact,” stressed Wood. “And they’ve done that. Even Hannibal, Will Fish, Shola, Alvaro, Joe [Hugill], all the lads who have stepped up have been training well and working hard. They’re fighting to play and fighting to impress. They’re making an impact in their own way in training and big games and it’s a big positive for me.

“If you’re going to step up from the younger ages, you can’t just make the numbers up and ease your way in, or have doubts over whether you should or shouldn’t be here. Those boys have stepped up and taking the bull by the horns by working hard to improve every day. Once they get a chance, they make an impact in any game they play.

“If they carry on doing that in training, improving individually and as a team as well. I think we can have quite a good season.”